Joplin council approves intersection contract
Jun. 19—A $1.7 million contract for beautification and new traffic signals, turn lanes, sidewalks and a stormwater drainage system at the intersection of Fourth Street and Murphy Boulevard was advanced for final consideration by Joplin City Council.
The contract with Sprouls Construction Inc. is for a $1.7 million project to reconfigure the driving lanes and the intersection.
It includes repair of the rock wall at the northeast corner of the intersection leading into Landreth Park, along with new landscaping and tree replacement. A large tree next to the wall needs to be replaced because its root system is damaging the wall structure, city officials said.
It is one of the efforts being done as the result of beautification and improvements goals set by the council.
The wall was built in the 1930s by workers in a federal program created to provide jobs during the Great Depression.
Prospect Village
The council on Monday also approved a bill that will require Woodsonia Real Estate, developer of Prospect Village, to pay costs incurred by the city to set up a tax increment finance district. The city will charge the development a $25,000 deposit on those costs.
Prospect Village is a $375 million sports, retail and residential development proposed for vacant land east of Range Line Road on the former site of International Paper Co., one of the largest developments in the city since Northpark Mall opened in 1972.
The plan for Prospect Village shows one of the main components would be a 20-acre sports and events center structured to draw 80,000 to 100,000 out-of-state visitors a year.
That center, according to the proposed plans, would have tournament-sized basketball and volleyball courts, outdoor turf fields for baseball, soccer, softball, lacrosse and other sports with spectator seating, locker rooms and concession stands.
Another part of the proposal is a provision for up to 350 multifamily housing units that would be built to accommodate different family sizes and price points, the documents state.
Other pieces include an anchor retailer, multiple hotels and retail and restaurants.
Financing would involve developer investment as well as special taxing districts.
Woodsonia developers would pay more than $206 million with private investment and debt.
Another $82.3 million would come from a proposed tax increment finance district.
Woodsonia Real Estate, also is working to complete 32nd Street Place near 32nd Street and South Range Line, where a 250-unit apartment complex is being completed, Menards recently opened, and construction is set to start soon on B&B Theatres.
In other business, the council:
—Approved a change order with Blevins Asphalt Co. for mill and overlay of some specific streets in the amount of $315,717.50. According to Dan Johnson, public works director, the city will delay much of its usual overlay pavement work this season because the water company, Missouri American, has some projects that involve opening streets. Instead, repaving will be done later so that the construction work does not damage new street pavement, Johnson said.
—Struck a public hearing on a request to vacate an alley in the area of 1036 S. Range Line at the request of a developer. Neighbors objected to the closure of the alley because it's used to provide access to trash collection and other uses. City officials said the developer is working on a revised plan for that area.
